Weaving through history: Finding heritage in Ben Nsusha’s art

Museum Africa presents ‘Thunga uThimule, a Reflective Exhibition’ by Nhlanhla Benjamin (Ben) Nsusha featuring over 60 pieces of art.

The concept of the exhibition is derived from the Zulu words Thunga, which means to sew but also describes the act of passing a pot of traditional beer from one person to the next while all seated in a circle; and uThimule, which in this context means to invite a response after posing an idea.

“You will hear the music in the wind, since art is in everything.”

In this exhibition, purposely timed to open on Heritage Day, Nsusha invites all South Africans to his exhibition to “pass around” his works and share the responses it inspires.

The concept behind Nsusha’s exhibition was derived from the fact that most of his work is sewn. “I am trying to remove myself from the cliché of just creating paintings or sculptures, so I tried to introduce my own style,” Nsusha explained. The artist incorporates stitching throughout his work, creating a sense of permanence in the material that he adds to his creations.

The framing of his canvas pieces not only displays the work for hanging but rather becomes one with Nsusha’s works. “I have used unique framing and have stitched the canvases to the frame. The next generation of artists should see how far we have come and (it should) inspire them to experiment with various mediums.”

With a 40-year career behind him, Nsusha is a prolific and multi-talented artist capable of creating works using many techniques and mediums.

Other than his formal education at Rorke’s Drift Art School and then the Slade Art School of London, Nsusha attributes his talent to his family and most importantly, his mother, who taught him the technique of weaving.

He added that his parents were also artists but when he was young, he did not think of them as such. “My mother was a dressmaker, she also weaved baskets and mats with grass, and (she made) collages which I have used in my art, where I have added denim on ceramic pieces.”

He said he chose Museum Africa because it was the heart of the art scene.

“My work is based on the environment, the plantations, people, the singing of birds, the blowing winds. When you listen to the wind, in the morning when everything else is quiet, you will hear the music in the wind, since art is in everything.”

The exhibition opened on Heritage Day, 24 September and run until 24 December.